Lester Frederick Bethke

Rochester-Lester Bethke, age 92, a longtime area farmer died Thursday, August 25, 2011 at the Red Wing Health Center in Red Wing, MN, where he had resided for the last year.A funeral service for Lester will be held 1:00 P.M. on Monday, August 29, 2011 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Rochester with Rev. William Otte officiating.Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes will be on Sunday, August 28th from 2:00 P.M to 4:00 P.M. and then on Monday at the church from noon until the time of the service. Lester was born in Rochester, MN on July 5, 1919 to Fred and Martha (Crown) Bethke.At first he farmed in the Elgin area and later near Byron. He also worked at the Mayo Clinic nights until he retired.He moved to Rochester in 1995.Lester married Verona Dose and they were later divorced.He married Marge Mitchell and she passed away in 1992.He married Wanda Fieck in 1995 and she survives. Lester was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church where he and his wife helped mail out the church newsletters for several years and he also helped her with Altar Society projects. He enjoyed gardening and helping his son in law on his farm. Lester is survived by his wife, Wanda; daughters, Korlee Witzel (Gary) of Menomonie, WI, Corrine (Cory) Fiksdal (Gary) of Rocheter, MN, Delores (Dee) Hammel (Glen) of Eyota, MN, and Darla Schultz of Owatonna, MN; stepchildren, Donna Wilkerson (Jim) of Sargent, MN, Diane Hanenberger (Bob) of Blooming Prairie, MN, Marilyn Grossbach (Thomas) of Mazeppa, MN, Wayne Fieck (Beth) of Rochester, MN, and Darwin Fieck (Louanne) of Millville, MN; 10 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren; and many step grandchildren and step great grandchildren.He was preceded in death by his parents, his second wife, 4 daughters, 1 brother, 1 sister and one grandson.